Best CPU for Gaming in 2019: The 11 Best Processors for Every Budget

We rated, reviewed, & compared 11 of the best CPUs for gaming across various budgets. These top processors are perfect for gamers or anyone else looking for a solid desktop CPU.

The processor is at the center of everything on your computer. It is the “brains” of the operation. And, in order to build a solid gaming computer in 2019 and beyond, you’re going to need a quality CPU. While some games (like first-person shooters) are heavily dependent on your graphics card, other games (like RTS’ and MMORPGs) have many more calculations that need to be carried out and therefore utilize your processor more. This should factor into your decision when looking for the best gaming CPU for your build.

Another thing you’ll need to take into account is the total budget you’ve set for your build. You obviously don’t want to spend $300 on a processor if you’re building a $400 budget gaming PC because you wouldn’t have very much money left over for other parts. And, likewise, putting a $100 processor in a high-end $1,000 gaming PC probably isn’t a good use of your budget as well.

In this post, we will take a look at the best processors for gaming in 2019. I’ve broken down the categories into three different price ranges: the best processors under $500, the best processors under $200, and the best processors under $100. For each price range, there are multiple CPUs listed and each one has a brief overview of the processor as well as a list of specifications.

*NOTE: We have left out Intel and AMD’s extreme CPUs as they are not viable options for the majority of users.

Our Top Picks for the Best Gaming Processors

For a quick look at our top choices for the best processor at a variety of different budgets, we’ve provided the table below. The table shows our top overall pick, our pick for the best mid-range processor, our choice for a value-packed overclockable CPU, the best budget processor, and the best ultra-cheap entry-level CPU.

*To read our full overviews on our top CPU choices, just click the “Read Review »” button. You can also keep scrolling down to find more options based on your specific budget.

The Best High-End Processors Under $500

The CPUs listed in this price range are split with two AMD CPUs and three Intel CPUs. As of right now, the consensus among most benchmarks shows that Intel’s Coffee Lake processors outperform AMD’s Ryzen processors in gaming-specific scenarios.

However, AMD’s offerings in this price range are no slouches either. While they don’t quite stack up to Intel’s processors in terms on single-core performance (which is what gives Intel’s CPUs the advantage in most games), they do offer more cores and threads at lower price points.

And, those more cores and threads help AMD’s new processors stand out in multi-threaded applications like video editing, game streaming, multitasking, etc.

So, there really aren’t any wrong choices in this price range as all of the processors listed below will give you more than enough power to play today’s top games (as long as they are paired with a high-end graphics card.)

Comparison of the Top CPUs Under $500

The Intel Core i7-9700K released to a little bit of disappointment due to only showing a small performance increase over the 8700K as well as the fact that is has released with a pricetag of over $400. Still, though, as of right now, the 9700K is the best CPU for pure gaming for under $500.Learn More

TECH SPECS

ARCHITECTURE

Coffee Lake

CLOCK SPEED

3.6GHz(4.9GHz)

CORES/THREADS

8(8)

TDP

95W

PROCESS

14nm

SOCKET

LGA 1151

Intel Core i7-9700K Overview

Intel’s latest generation of Coffee Lake processors has had PC enthusiasts scratching their heads a bit. For starters, Intel decided to scrap hyperthreading on their newest i7 processor and instead opted to increase the core count. The i7-9700K comes with eight cores, which is two more cores than the previous i7-8700K.

But, that’s not what has been the real head-scratcher. The biggest disappointment of the i7-9700K according to early benchmarks, is the fact that it doesn’t offer a very significant performance increase over the 9700K. And, not only that, but it is coming in at a bit higher of a pricetag as well.

Overall, though, the 9700K does outperform the 8700K and so if you’re looking for the best CPU for gaming for under $500, the 9700K is it. If you want to save a little bit more money, you can opt for the older Intel Core 8700K, or, for even less, the Ryzen 7 2700X can currently be had for just a little over $300 and will do more than fine for gaming.

Just make sure, though, that if you are planning on getting the i7-9700K and you want to keep it cool that you pair it with a high-end air cooler or AIO cooler.

Ryzen has definitely given Intel a run for the money this past year. However, it still appears as if Intel’s high-end options hold a performance edge over AMD’s new CPUs in gaming-specific uses thanks to Intel’s stronger single-core performance. In my opinion, though, because the Ryzen 7 2700X costs significantly less than the new i7-9700K and it will perform very well for gaming, it is the better price-to-performance option.Learn More

TECH SPECS

ARCHITECTURE

Ryzen

CLOCK SPEED

3.7GHz(4.3GHz)

CORES/THREADS

8(16)

TDP

95W

PROCESS

14nm

SOCKET

AM4

AMD Ryzen 7 2700X Overview

AMD’s flagship processor for its AM4 platform is the Ryzen 7 2700X.

With 8 cores and 16 threads, the 2700X is a real monster. It starts out with a base clock of 3.7GHz and has a “precision” boost of 4.3GHz.

The Ryzen 7 2700X is a high-end performer that will work for you if you are looking for something that can both deliver good performance while gaming and handle multi-threaded applications with ease. And, because the 2700X comes in at a significantly lower price than the Intel Core i7-9700K, it is currently a better CPU option for your money if you don’t have an unlimited budget.

Ultimately, if I had a decent budget (between $1,000-$1,500) to build a gaming PC right now and I would also be using the PC to do more CPU intensive tasks, I would opt for the Ryzen 7 2700X over both the i7-9700K and i5-9600K. For pure gaming performance, though, the single-core performance of Intel’s newest processors would be the more ideal choice.

The Intel Core i5-9600K is another solid option in the under $300 category. To make it simple, the i5-9600K is a better option than the Ryzen 7 2700 if your sole purpose is gaming performance. However, if you plan on doing any CPU-heavy tasks along with gaming, the better multi-core performance of the 2700 might be what you’re looking for.Learn More

TECH SPECS

ARCHITECTURE

Coffee Lake

CLOCK SPEED

3.7GHz(4.6GHz)

CORES/THREADS

6(6)

TDP

95W

PROCESS

14nm

SOCKET

LGA 1151

Intel Core i5-9600K Overview

I’m a little torn on the i5-9600K. Intel’s unlocked Core i5 processor has always typically been their sweet spot for mid-range to high-end gaming builds. And, really, the 9600K is an excellent chip, especially when you consider Coffee Lake i5’s have bumped up to six-core CPUs.

However, the new i5-9600K is currently priced at a little under $300, whereas previous Intel Core i5 unlocked processors floated in the $200-$230 price range. So, with the higher price tag, I think that gives consumers pause to consider more competitors.

In my opinion, the 9600K has three main competitors that currently offer a better price-to-performance ratio and those are the Ryzen 5 2600, the Ryzen 5 2700, and Intel’s own i5-8400.

With the much cheaper Ryzen 5 2600, you can pair it with a sub-$70 motherboard and keep the stock cooler and still be able to hit mild overclocks. And, the total cost to build a system with a Ryzen 5 2600 setup (CPU, motherboard, and stock cooler), is going to be at least $200 lower than it will to build a system with an i5-9600K setup (CPU, motherboard, and aftermarket cooler).

The other option is Intel’s Core i5-8400, which, while it can’t be overclocked, it does come in at almost $80 lower than the i5-9600K and you won’t have to buy a third party cooler to go with it or spend as much on a motherboard.

So, the main problem with Intel’s new i5-9600K is that it, A) has more competition, and B) has increased in price to a level that alienates a lot of the people who would normally buy it. The bottom line, though, is that if you’re looking for the best processor for gaming in the under $300 price category, the excellent single-core performance of the 9600K makes it the best option for you.

If you’re building a brand new system and you have a decent-sized budget, an AMD Ryzen 7 2700 is a worthy option. It won’t quite perform on par with an i7-9700K or i5-9600K in gaming, but it’s extra cores and threads make it a really good option in other CPU-dependant tasks. So, if you’re looking for a CPU that will help you do more than gaming, the 7 2700 might be your best bet.Learn More

TECH SPECS

ARCHITECTURE

Ryzen

CLOCK SPEED

3.0GHz(3.7GHz)

CORES/THREADS

8(16)

TDP

65W

PROCESS

14nm

SOCKET

AM4

AMD Ryzen 7 2700 Overview

In my opinion, as of right now, the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 is one of the best options currently on the market. Not because it is the highest performing CPU on this list (it’s close), but because of all of the new Ryzen CPUs that have been released, the 2700 is one of the better options in terms of the performance you can get out of it for the price you pay to get it.

Yes, it’s true that in the grand scheme of things an Intel Core i5-9600K still performs better than the new Ryzen CPUs when gaming.

Gaming nowadays is just way more GPU-dependent than CPU dependent, and both Intel’s i5 and i7 processors and AMD’s new Ryzen CPUs are more than enough to avoid bottlenecking today’s top GPUs.

However, the one bright spot of the Ryzen 7 2700 is that with eight cores and 16 threads, the Ryzen 7 2700 is well-suited for things like video editing, streaming, and doing graphic design. Yes, the new 9700K has added more cores and they has closed the gap in multi-threaded applications. However, they are quite a bit more expensive to build with and so the Ryzen 7 2700 is still the way to go at certain price points if you will be doing a lot of editing as well as gaming.

Ultimately, though, if you are building your computer for more than just gaming and you don’t quite have the budget to fit in an i7-9700K, then the 7 2700 is definitely an option you’ll want to consider.

The Best Mid-Range Processors Under $200

For gamers who have a lower budget, the CPUs in the under $200 price range are excellent options.

In fact, in most gaming scenarios, they offer enough power to not be a hindrance to your video card.

Therefore, if you have less to spend on your gaming computer, you can choose one of these CPUs to help you allocate more to your video card–which will ultimately give you better in-game performance.

All-in-all, these CPUs aren’t the top processors on the market, but they are affordable, powerful for the price, and will get the job done for anyone looking to build a mid-range (or even better) gaming computer.

Comparison of the Top CPUs Under $200

Six-cores, 12 threads, a stock cooler that is feasible for overclocking, affordable motherboards, low TDP, and a reasonable price… that’s what you get with the AMD Ryzen 5 2600. All-in-all, it might just be the best AMD processof for gaming (let alone the best value CPU) currently on the market when you bring price into the equation.Learn More

TECH SPECS

ARCHITECTURE

Ryzen

CLOCK SPEED

3.4GHz(3.9GHz)

CORES/THREADS

6(12)

TDP

65W

PROCESS

14nm

SOCKET

AM4

AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Overview

I’d say that, as of right now, there are three only three attractive mid-range CPUs available. And, those are the Intel Core i5-8400, the Ryzen 5 2600, and the Intel Core i3-8100.

Each of those processors is affordable and will provide ideal in-game performance in just about any scenario, and, in the case of the Ryzen 5 2600, it can be overclocked and it has a stock cooler that is actually suited for mild overclocks.

Of those three, if you’re looking for the most all-around performance, then the Ryzen 5 2600 is probably your best bet. It has six cores and 12 threads and it comes in at well under $160.

Ultimately, if you’re looking to build a new mid-range gaming computer, you have a little over $150 to spend on your processor, and you want as many cores and threads as possible, then the Ryzen 5 2600 and a solid AM4 motherboard is the route to go.

The Intel Core i5-8400 is one of the beter value chips currently available if you have no plans to build a system that can be overclocked. If you are looking to have the ability to overclock your processor, you’ll either want to look at the more expensive Intel Core i5-9600K or switch to the similarly-priced Ryzen 5 2600.Learn More

TECH SPECS

ARCHITECTURE

Coffee Lake

CLOCK SPEED

2.8GHz(4.0GHz)

CORES/THREADS

6(6)

TDP

65W

PROCESS

14nm

SOCKET

LGA 1151

Intel Core i5-8400 Overview

In my opinion, if you look at just the CPU, the Intel Core i5-8400 is one of the better value options right now for anyone looking to build a mid-range gaming PC. The problem, though, is it cannot be overclocked, whereas the Ryzen 5 2600 can.

But, with six-cores and extremely good single-core performance, the i5-8400 is a solid option if your sole purpose is gaming. And, now that Intel has finally released their budget-friendly H-series and B-series motherboards, the 8400 offers a really affordable platform to build off of.

Ultimately, if you don’t have any plans to overclock and you’re looking to build a mid-range gaming computer, then i5-8400 offers a nice price-to-performance office to center your build around.

Intel’s Core i3-8100 brings an incredible value at its price and will work perfectly fine in a budget-friendly 1080P gaming computer. It can’t be overclocked, though, and so if that’s something you want to do, then the Ryzen 5 2600 might be other options for your to consider.Learn More

TECH SPECS

ARCHITECTURE

Coffee Lake

CLOCK SPEED

3.6GHz

CORES/THREADS

4(4)

TDP

65W

PROCESS

14nm

SOCKET

LGA 1151

Intel Core i3-8100 Overview

With Intel finally releasing their budget-friendly H-series and B-series motherboards for Coffee Lake chips and with the price of the 8100 coming down a bit, it really is one of the better budget-friendly-to-mid-range processor options currently available.

It’s quad-core processor that has a base clock speed of 3.6GHz. While it doesn’t have as many cores as the other options listed above it, quad-core processors are still enough for the majority of games currently out there.

So, if you’re looking to build a budget-friendly gaming computer, you don’t care about overclocking, and you’d rather spend more on your graphics card than on your processor, then the i3-8100 will give you a nice affordable option to build around

At just a little under $120, the older Ryzen 5 1400 is still a viable option for the right user. While the Intel Core i3-8100 would be the better option for gaming, the Ryzen 5 1400 makes sense for gamers who will also be doing tasks like video editing, graphics design, content creation, etc.Learn More

TECH SPECS

ARCHITECTURE

Ryzen

CLOCK SPEED

3.2GHz(3.4GHz)

CORES/THREADS

4(8)

TDP

65W

PROCESS

14nm

SOCKET

AM4

AMD Ryzen 5 1400 Overview

If you want to overclock and you have a tight budget then the Ryzen 5 1400 is an option you’ll want to consider instead of the i3-8100.

Like the 8100, the Ryzen 5 1400 is a quad-core CPU. However, unlike the 8100, the 1400 has eight threads instead of just four. It also has a low TDP of 65W, and it can be overclocked.

Also, it comes with a very respectable stock CPU cooler. In fact, the stock cooler is decent enough to allow you to hit mild overclocks on the 1400.

Ultimately, the decision in this price range really comes down to how much money you have to spend. If you need an extra ~$20 in your budget to be able to move up to the next graphics card up, then go with the Intel Core i3-8100 over the 1400. If you want to overclock and have a little bit of money in your budget to spare, then go with the 1400.

In the end, both are excellent options that will perform well now and in the future.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is a decent option if you have about ~$400 or so to spend on a new gaming computer. It’s not the best budget gaming CPU on the market, but with four cores, eight threads, the ability to overclock, and integrated Vega 11 graphics, the 2400G is a really solid entry-level processor for casual gamers.Learn More

TECH SPECS

ARCHITECTURE

Ryzen

CLOCK SPEED

3.6GHz(3.9GHz)

CORES/THREADS

4(8)

TDP

65W

PROCESS

14nm

SOCKET

AM4

AMD Ryzen 5 2400G Overview

In the APU vs CPU battle, I’ve long rallied against APUs in general. In my opinion, past generations of AMD’s APUs have come with a couple of issues that have kept them from being relevant for building gaming PCs with.

Those problems were that, A) there was no upgrade path from the old FM2 socket to a high-end desktop processor, and B) the prices were too high and thus couldn’t compete with other budget CPU/dedicated GPU combos.

However, with AMD’s new APUs being built on the AM4 socket, there is now a real upgrade path for APU owners. And, with the state of the graphics card market, AMD’s Ryzen APUs actually make sense for certain budgets.

The 2400G comes with four cores, eight threads, the ability to overclock, and integrated Vega 11 graphics. It also has a base lock of 3.6GHz and a boost clock of 3.9GHz.

In my opinion, if you have ~$400 or so to spend on a gaming computer build, your best bet is to go with a Ryzen 2400G. There just currently isn’t a budget CPU/dedicated GPU combination that makes more sense than a 2400G at those price points.

So, in the end, while I have been an opponent of AMD’s APUs, I think this time around they got them right.

The Best Budget Processors Under $100

If you have an extremely tight budget, then you will want to consider take a look at these sub-$100 CPUs.

You’re not going to find the best processor for gaming in this price range, but if you’re just looking to build a system that will at least play most games on lower settings, then they will easily accomplish that.

As mentioned above, the video card you choose will play a bigger role in determining your in-game performance.

So, by choosing one of these more affordable CPUs you can allocate more money towards a better video card and you’ll be able to build a solid entry-level gaming PC.

Comparison of the Top CPUs Under $100

At right about $90, AMD’s Ryzen 3 2200G is a very good CPU for gamers who are working with a budget that is too low for them to be able to afford a dedicated graphics card. While the 2200G isn’t going to be turning heads with its performance, it will allow gamers to build an entry-level gaming PC that can play their favorite games on lower settings.Learn More

TECH SPECS

ARCHITECTURE

Ryzen

CLOCK SPEED

3.5GHz(3.7GHz)

CORES/THREADS

4(4)

TDP

65W

PROCESS

14nm

SOCKET

AM4

AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Overview

In the past, I typically avoided recommending APUs. However, with the release of AMD’s new Ryzen APUs, and with GPU prices currently out of control, these new APUs seem to finally have a legitimate price point in which they make sense for budget gamers.

The Ryzen 3 2200G is a quad-core chip that has four threads. It comes packed with integrated AMD Vega 8 graphics.

The integrated graphics on the 2200G are actually powerful enough for the APU to handle most non-demanding PC games. So, games like League of Legends, Dota 2, Minecraft, etc.

The chip is unlocked as well, so you can also overclock it to get a little bit more performance out of it.

Ultimately, the Ryzen 3 2200G is a solid budget Ryzen CPU for gaming. It works well in gaming computer builds that come in under ~$400 or so and will serve as the perfect entry-point for 1080p gaming.

If you’re working with an extremely tight budget, the Intel Pentium G4560 is probably your best bet. The G4560 isn’t the best gaming processor out there, but it is cheap, which will allow you to pair it with a decent entry-level graphics card, and since it works with the LGA 1151 socket, you’ll have the option to upgrade it to a higher-end i5 or i7 CPU down the road.Learn More

TECH SPECS

ARCHITECTURE

Kaby Lake

CLOCK SPEED

3.5GHz

CORES/THREADS

2(4)

TDP

54W

PROCESS

14nm

SOCKET

LGA 1151

Intel Core i3-8100 Overview

In the past, AMD typically took the crown for budget processors. However, the Intel Pentium G4560 has plenty of selling points to it that definitely makes it one of the best cheap processor currently available.

In fact, the Pentium G4560 is probably the best processor under $100, all things considered…

For starters, the G4560 is cheap. I mean like sub-$70 cheap. That makes it by far the most affordable CPU on this list. It can also be overclocked and it can get to 4.0 GHz fairly easily. And, unlike its predecessors, it is hyperthreaded and has four total threads.

But, perhaps the biggest benefit of going with a G4560 is the fact that, in the future, it can be upgraded to an Intel i5 or i7 CPU and be paired with a high-end video card.

So, ultimately, while the Pentium G4560 isn’t the fastest CPU on the market, it does offer a very interesting option at an incredibly affordable price that will not only give you decent performance but will give you a good foundation to upgrade on later. And, in the end, it is probably the best budget CPU currently available.

Need Help Choosing A Gaming CPU?

While this list covers my opinions on what the best CPUs for gaming are, it’s inevitable that others will disagree with me. And, that’s fine!

I based this list off of what I believed were the best options in terms of overall performance and value. And, because I mainly looked at price-to-performance, I left some CPUs completely off of the list.

Ultimately, though, if you’re in the market for a new gaming computer and you are planning on buying a new system, or if you are just looking for an upgrade for your current system, and you have questions about choosing a processor, please post them below.

Hi. My son is looking to build a gaming computer. He’s purchased an MSI GeForce GTX1060 and we’re trying to decide on the CPU. He’s looking at the Intel Core i5-9600K Desktop Processor 6 Cores up to 4.6 GHz Turbo Unlocked LGA1151 300 Series 95W but I was wondering if the Intel Core i5-8400 Desktop Processor 6 Cores up to 4.0 GHz LGA 1151 300 Series 65W would work just as well. WE’re trying to get it under $900 for the rest of the parts (he already has a case and the GTX card.

I think if your remaning budget is $900 (after GPU and case), the 9600K should fit in just fine. Although, for gaming, the performance difference between the 9600K and 8400 won’t be too significant in the grand scheme of things (maybe ~5 or so FPS difference, if that?) So, if you’d rather save the ~$60 difference between the two processors and put that towards more memory, a bigger SSD, or a better power supply, that wouldn’t be a bad option as well.

And, in that regards, you could also consider AMD’s Ryzen 5 2600, too, as it is cheaper than the 8400 and will perform similarly in games, as well as offer more cores and allow for overclocking.

Ultimately, the 9600K, 8400, and Ryzen 5 2600 are all viable options. It will just come down to how you want to approach the other components in your system.

Hi im looking to upgrade from an old fx-8350 and i recently got a zotac gtx 1070. Knowing this i know i have to change my ram my cpu and my motherboard. So i got my eyes on either the amd ryzen 5 2600x, ryzen 7 2700 or the intel i5 9600k. I mainly game on my pc and don’t multi task a lot. I would like to know what you think i should get between these 3. And i also tend to go for the long run with my cpu like 3-5 years without change.

I’d go the Ryzen 7 2700 or 9600K. The 9600K is going to cost more with motherboard and cooler, but it will perform a bit better in games. The 2700 platform will be cheaper, though, and still give ideal performance in games. There’s really not a wrong choice between those two.

Thanks for the research, I am looking to get an all in one even though everyone has suggested that I don’t I still want one, I’m interested in the fastest as far as my work goes it almost all the programs that I work on are web-based, I work typically with 2 or 3 screens up and running with different programs at one time. I only have 2 programs I believe that have to be stored on my computer. Would you say the 27″ Envy would be the best choice for me?

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About Me

Hey, I’m Brent. I’ve been building computers and writing about building computers for a long time. I’m an avid gamer and tech enthusiast, too. On TechGuided.com and the Tech Guided YouTube channel, I review PC hardware, peripherals, and various tech products to help you find the right product for your needs. Have a question? Just leave one below on any of the posts on the site.